ALBANY -- Albany Technical College broke ground Friday afternoon on a new building that ATC President Anthony Parker said will give the college's 4,000 strong student body more breathing room.

The two-story Logistics Education Center will encompass 37,000-square-feet and will be used primarily to train employees at Marine Corps Logistics Base-Albany in specialized welding to repair armored vehicles, Parker said.

According to Quillian Powell, president of Quillian Powell Construction Co. of Valdosta, the building is set to be completed in January 2011 and will connect to the college's Kirkland Building.

Parker said the building will also include a new student center.

"The building will also house a restaurant setting where culinary arts students will have the chance to cook and serve their dishes in a real working restaurant," he said.

The building will also be home to the school's new library.

"Our library is across from diesel and mechanical classes," said Parker. "There is a lot of noise going on, and it goes against what a traditional library is supposed to be."

Parker said the new building will give the college an opportunity to expand and remodel other areas across the campus where the media center and culinary arts program used to be, giving students more breathing room.

"We are a bit cramped now," said Parker. "We are growing in numbers."

The Logistics Education Center will share a drive with the Department of Labor and will also require installation of a traffic light.

"A light will help slow down some of the traffic on Slappey (Boulevard)," said Parker. "The project will be a wonderful chance to enhance our distance learning."